Absolutely. We have done over 50 experiments involving everything from M&Ms and spaghetti, to popcorn and detergent in Laundermats. What we find is that bigger packages cause you to eat or use more of a product. You’ll eat up to 48% more of candy and 23% more spaghetti. Even with detergent and soaps, larger sizes can cause you to use around 20% more than you normally would.

Big packages cause you to use more for a number or reasons. One reason is because you lose track of how much you use. A second reason is because you infer that these big packages are less expensive to use than smaller packages.

Bigger Isn’t Always Bigger, Right?

Large packages are generally less expensive per ounce than smaller packages, so they’re a better bargain right? Wrong. If you end up eating more because of this larger package, or if you end up wasting more because of the package, they are actually more costly. One solution can be to get the bulk-size savings by buying larger packages and repacking them in smaller containers once you get home.

Why are Serving Sizes and Packages so Big?

The increase in serving sizes and packages began in the 1970s as there became an explosion in the number of fast food restaurants. At this point food chains implemented a number of strategies to differentiate themselves. Offering “value” to their customers–more fries and cola for the money–was one of these strategies. After one fast food chain did it, the others followed.

A similar phenomenon happened in the grocery store. As one potato chip company made larger bags to provide a greater value, competitors followed. Because people bought these bigger sizes, they kept being manufactured.

When will this “Portion Distorion” Stop?

When consumers no longer want bigger sizes. It is probably close to the maximum limit right now. That is, there is a limit to how big a package size can be without it being too bulky to lift, to pour, and to store. We’re close to that level now with most products. This is also the case with fast food restaurants.

Why Do We Buy Things We Never Use?

Most of us (93%) buy things we never use. If we go to our cupboard, we might find salad dressings, Tabasco sauce, peppermint frosting, and strange spices sitting there. Although we usually want to blame coupons, clever ads, and price promotions on these “cabinet castaways,” in reality, we are to blame.

In a cross-country survey of over 400 households, we found that the majority of products purchased and not used were bought for recipes that were never made, or for events that never happened.

cardi logo and a e m logo and Cornell University